The Town FilesIndependence, New York
Town in Allegany County · population 1,085 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $100,800
- Household income
- $68,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 61 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 41.9
Independence is a town of 1,085 people in Allegany County, New York. The median home is worth $100,800, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks quieter than 88% of New York towns, better for first-time buyers than 78% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 73% of New York towns.
How Independence ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Independence is worth $100,800, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $68,750, which is more affordable than 98% of New York towns. Median rent is $609 a month. 83.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Independence | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $100,800 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $609 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $68,750 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 83.1% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.7% | — |
Who lives in Independence
| People | Independence | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.7% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.4% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 1.3% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 29.4 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.9% | 91.1% |
Weather in Independence
July highs average 79.2°F and January lows 12.9°F. About 39.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 61.1 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Independence since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 27, 2010 about 2.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 27, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 7, 2012.
Severe weather in Allegany County since 1996
Allegany County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4825: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 8, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4625: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| July 8, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4180: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Allegany County
Allegany County had 13,565 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,004 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Independence itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Independence
1 public school with 129 students, about 6.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WHITESVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL | PK-12 | 129 | 6.1 |
Towns near Independence
- Willing, NY5.1 mi · 1,281 people · home $99,000
- Bingham, PA5.6 mi · 619 people · home $246,100
- Stannards, NY6.4 mi · 585 people · home $124,600
- Andover, NY7.4 mi · 1,615 people · home $78,200
- Andover, NY7.8 mi · 890 people · home $72,000
- Genesee, PA8.2 mi · 726 people · home $137,500
- Wellsville, NY8.5 mi · 7,064 people · home $94,600
- Harrison, PA8.5 mi · 1,022 people · home $139,600
Independence questions
Is Independence, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Independence scores better for retirees than 47% of New York towns and quieter than 88%. 18.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.9).
How much does a house cost in Independence?
The median owner-occupied home in Independence is valued at $100,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,750, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $609 a month.
What is the weather like in Independence?
July highs average 79.2°F and January lows 12.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.7 inches of precipitation a year and 61.1 inches of snow.
Does Independence get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Independence since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 27, 2010. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)